Two hours later, Kara and I find ourselves kneeling over a cavern entrance. Rocks jut out of the ground at odd angles, sticking out of the landscape like a sore thumb. The rocks quickly become more prominent, providing footing to climb down.

This seems unnatural.

"What are the chances that this is the lair of the Hydra Fleur and the rest killed?" Kara asks, looking down into the cavern.

I can't see any tracks in the mud and the little lake at the bottom is undisturbed. Hydras can't breathe underwater, right? The tunnel leading further is shrouded in shadows.

"Pretty high," I say, grabbing my rifle, "Hydras aren't that common and I'd assume that they are somewhat territorial."

"I don't know, I never fought one," Kara replies, grabbing her daggers.

I grab a bullet for my revolver and use [Elemental Infusion: Light], filling it up until it begins to glow.

Tossing the bullet down towards the tunnel, I aim into the tunnel, checking for any dangers. Nothing inside, only a few lizards.

"Alright," I say, starting the climb down, "Let's go."

We quickly climb down and find ourselves knee deep in cold water.

"Ugh," Kara complains, "I hate water."

I start wading towards the tunnel, chuckling to myself, "And you don't want to be compared to a cat."

"Fuck off," she says, doing her best to leave the water as quickly as possible.

I follow after her unslinging my rifle again and keeping it at the ready. There's only small lizards around, covered in mud and eating bugs. There's bubbles rising from the middle of the lake, popping at the surface.

I grab the Light infused bullet and put it into my revolver, focusing the light into a cone and shining it down into the water from the shore.

The surface between the water consists of scales as far as I can see. A reptilian eye stares back at me, flinching from the sudden change in brightness.

"Run!"

Kara turns around and sees the water bulging up, a veritable mountain of muscles rising high up, water pearling down its scales. Six heads rise high up, curling against the ceiling and glaring down at us, hissing dangerously. Red eyes glare down at us, the necks of the Hydra blocking the light.

We run to the tunnel, searching for cover as the Hydra roars behind us, shaking the walls.

[Grant: What the fuck is that Hydra?!]

The nearest head to us snaps at me, teeth the size of my arm snapping close not even a foot away from me.

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I raise my revolver at it and press the trigger. The bullet explodes in the chamber, Light magic apparently being unsuited for a bullet, a blinding flash of light exiting through the barrel as the cylinder cracks.

The head reels back, shrieking as it's being blinded.

[Siro: That is the Gatekeeper of Sorym, the Deceiver, the Baleful, strongest Hydra in all of Thurm.]

Thurm? No time for that.

I run into the tunnel, following after Kara and dropping my scorching hot revolver, having to leave it behind.

The Hydra tries to catch us, forcing its head into the tunnel, stretching its face into a frightening grin, teeth exposed, it greedily snaps at us.

[Grant: Couldn't you have warned me of the giant Hydra guarding the entry?]

Kara and I run further down the tunnel.

[Siro: She was the size of a horse last time I saw her! Isn't she cute?]

Oh my god, I am going to be glad once I am done with his shit. Divine missions are cool and all but they can be idiots sometimes.

We stop after a bend, catching our breath. "How are we supposed to get back up if that thing is waiting for us?" Kara asks, voice echoing in the tunnels.

"There's probably another way," I say, "we can always kill it or wait for it to sleep again."

[Siro: No!]

Stay out!

Kara grabs her daggers, ready to start the trek into the unknown. "What are we waiting for? Let's go."

"Let's mark our path, just to make sure," I say, grabbing a piece of scrap.

If I can infuse it with the right combination of elements, I might be able to mark the walls whenever we get to a fork in the path.

I can probably melt arrows into the Stone with Lava so I start infusing the scrap, focusing on separating it so I don't burn my hand.

I start leading the way, following Siros directions while infusing the scrap. It starts glowing after a minute, providing light for us.

[Grant: What's Thurm?]

[Vona: The Planet you are living on.]

Okay, good to know.

Coming to the first fork, I hold the scrap against the wall and mark an arrow to the left. The stone melts under the scrap, leaving a groove behind.

It takes five hours and two double backs for us to reach a smoother tunnel, stones turning into bricks, slick with moss.

Unlit braziers, mosaic designs that have fallen to the decay of time, flank the tunnel, wet wood still inside. Glowing moss covers the ceiling, twinkling in the darkness and tempting us further down.

We walk through the entrance.

Spread in front of us is a huge settlement with a temple as its centrepiece, the ceiling is a thin membrane keeping the water out. Fish float around the city, curiously looking at the City, and people walk through the streets. The temple has a huge mural depicting Siro on its front.

"Whaa, What the hell are you?" someone asks from behind the last brazier, their voice sounds like they're gurgling something.

They are a humanoid fish, standing on two legs ending in fins and clutching a spear formed out of coral. Their clothes are simple but have obviously been repaired dozens of times, barely counting as armour.

"What the fuck?" Kara yells, probably alerting everyone in the city as she takes a step back, "What's that?!"

I lamely raise a hand, guessing that they still worship Siro to some degree. "We're here on a divine mission from Siro. Can you take us to your leader?"

Their eyes widen, clutching their spear. "Are you a prophet? Please, yes, come this way, I will show you to the great Am'Hugda, our High Priest."